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Vassar College
Sept. 23 1866-
My darling Mother,
How good it was of you to write us such a good long letter. It is so good to hear from home. I hope you admire the word "good", it appears to be a favorite one of mine - It is a beautiful day, the sun is very bright and warm although it is chilly in the house - Hattie and Miss Stoddard are going to church together, and Minnie is to escort two young girls. I went to church last Sunday, walked both ways, and felt better for it. Yesterday we all three went in, and called on Mrs. Knapp, she seemed very glad to see us - I like her better every time I see her - They are boarding now in a private house, and enjoying life highly. Congratulate the Pomeroy's for us. How strange it must seem to them to have a baby at their house. What a pity that it is not a boy, they all wanted one so much. I hope that Mrs. Pomeroy will continue to do well. What will they call her? Is she old enough to show whether she is dark or fair? Was Mrs. Pomeroy ready for her? Do tell me all the particulars The Detroit girls are progressing finely. I don't think they have been at all homesick, either individually or collectively. That Miss Bartlett I have seen two or three times. She seems in a flourishing condition. Emma Cartledge's niece I am ashamed to say, we have not been to see. It's real mean of us for she looks like a child who would be desperately homesick, but we have been so busy and have made so many visits to forlorn new scholars that we haven't come round to her. I mean to go and see her this very day, for today of all days in the week she will need attention. Dr. Raymond is not able to preach to day, and they do say that our lovely friend Rev. J. L. Corning will perform that duty for him. Interesting prospect! I wish we could fill our pew at home this evening. Hattie has begun to take observations on the spots on the sun. She takes them every day at twelve, so that at that time you can imagine Hattie on top of the observatory peering at his roasting majesty through a telescope. The sun has been spotless so far, but in at least a month she hopes to see some little black spots the size of a pin's head upon his disk. Clara Glover is to observe the moon and sweep for comets. I don't think it pays. My inaugural came off in a proper manner and I have taken my seat as Pres. of our Chapter, two presidents from our room is doing well, isn't it? Prof. Van Lugen and his bride have arrived. They were thirty two days on the ocean, owing to breakages in the machinery. The vessel was a Dutch one, making its first voyage. Their friends on this side of the water were seriously disturbed about them before they arrived. Madame Van Ingen Is very tall, and dark, looking far more like a French woman than a Hollander. She wears no hoops, which adds to her apparent height - Her English is almost a minus quantity, and they say, that the poor thing tucked away in the fourth story of one of the Prof's houses unable to converse with any one in the absence of her husband, is some what homesick. I pity her from the bottom of my heart. Hattie wants you should send her that blue paper Minnie gave her & was left in one of the secretary drawers and I want my black kid gloves - I am afraid however with all our wants that you'll have a larger bundle than you can send conveniently. If so leave out anything you think unnecessary - There are about eight new teachers none of whom I like at all - but I shall have nothing to do with them - The Faculty have been working night and day to perfect their arrangements, and have succeeded so well, that on Monday we commence recitations. Dr. Raymond and Profs. Knapp and Farrar look worn out. It's too bad especially has Prof. Knapp had no rest this summer owing to the dangerous illness of his wife. I am thankful that you are having so pleasant a visit with Auntie and Cousin Mary, they must have been delighted to see the last of us - Has Auntie seen Mrs. Howard yet? Miss Gilbert said, in a letter received from her Friday, that Uncle and Aunt Safford, were to visit you soon, so dont despair - She also said that Clara joined the church last communion Sabbath Horace is at home but much worse, they will be obliged to take him back. He is very affectionate and kind whenever he knows them, which he seldom does. She hoped that we would write to them, poor Aunt Sarah is almost, heart broken. I mean to write very soon. She says that Horace still preserves a gentlemanly appearance, but that he is a very mournful sight - Please remember us to Mr. & Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Raymond, Mrs. Hibbard, Sara, Carrie, &c. I can't realise now that I've been at home at all, everything looks precisely like last year, except the new faces, some of whom I like, many of whom I don't like - Miss Lyman is so gracious that the old scholars are somewhat bewildered. Helen says she is going to write, but as she is comfortably basking in the sunshine reading, I hardly think she will, therefore I will say for her that she is in ecstasies with every thing and person so far, except Prof. Knapp, to whom her objections seem to be, that he is very handsome, and has a black mustache. Give a great deal of love to all at home. I am thankful that you have a good girl at last. I've been up by a quarter past six every morning till this one -
Good bye - Your loving daughter Mattie-
Mother if I have not said so before I want to say now, if Auntie would like it please give her for Mary my plaid brown dress. It will be of no particular service to me & she seemed to take a fancy to it & there is enough good to make Mary a very pretty dress - With love - Hattie
Sept. 23 1866-
My darling Mother,
How good it was of you to write us such a good long letter. It is so good to hear from home. I hope you admire the word "good", it appears to be a favorite one of mine - It is a beautiful day, the sun is very bright and warm although it is chilly in the house - Hattie and Miss Stoddard are going to church together, and Minnie is to escort two young girls. I went to church last Sunday, walked both ways, and felt better for it. Yesterday we all three went in, and called on Mrs. Knapp, she seemed very glad to see us - I like her better every time I see her - They are boarding now in a private house, and enjoying life highly. Congratulate the Pomeroy's for us. How strange it must seem to them to have a baby at their house. What a pity that it is not a boy, they all wanted one so much. I hope that Mrs. Pomeroy will continue to do well. What will they call her? Is she old enough to show whether she is dark or fair? Was Mrs. Pomeroy ready for her? Do tell me all the particulars The Detroit girls are progressing finely. I don't think they have been at all homesick, either individually or collectively. That Miss Bartlett I have seen two or three times. She seems in a flourishing condition. Emma Cartledge's niece I am ashamed to say, we have not been to see. It's real mean of us for she looks like a child who would be desperately homesick, but we have been so busy and have made so many visits to forlorn new scholars that we haven't come round to her. I mean to go and see her this very day, for today of all days in the week she will need attention. Dr. Raymond is not able to preach to day, and they do say that our lovely friend Rev. J. L. Corning will perform that duty for him. Interesting prospect! I wish we could fill our pew at home this evening. Hattie has begun to take observations on the spots on the sun. She takes them every day at twelve, so that at that time you can imagine Hattie on top of the observatory peering at his roasting majesty through a telescope. The sun has been spotless so far, but in at least a month she hopes to see some little black spots the size of a pin's head upon his disk. Clara Glover is to observe the moon and sweep for comets. I don't think it pays. My inaugural came off in a proper manner and I have taken my seat as Pres. of our Chapter, two presidents from our room is doing well, isn't it? Prof. Van Lugen and his bride have arrived. They were thirty two days on the ocean, owing to breakages in the machinery. The vessel was a Dutch one, making its first voyage. Their friends on this side of the water were seriously disturbed about them before they arrived. Madame Van Ingen Is very tall, and dark, looking far more like a French woman than a Hollander. She wears no hoops, which adds to her apparent height - Her English is almost a minus quantity, and they say, that the poor thing tucked away in the fourth story of one of the Prof's houses unable to converse with any one in the absence of her husband, is some what homesick. I pity her from the bottom of my heart. Hattie wants you should send her that blue paper Minnie gave her & was left in one of the secretary drawers and I want my black kid gloves - I am afraid however with all our wants that you'll have a larger bundle than you can send conveniently. If so leave out anything you think unnecessary - There are about eight new teachers none of whom I like at all - but I shall have nothing to do with them - The Faculty have been working night and day to perfect their arrangements, and have succeeded so well, that on Monday we commence recitations. Dr. Raymond and Profs. Knapp and Farrar look worn out. It's too bad especially has Prof. Knapp had no rest this summer owing to the dangerous illness of his wife. I am thankful that you are having so pleasant a visit with Auntie and Cousin Mary, they must have been delighted to see the last of us - Has Auntie seen Mrs. Howard yet? Miss Gilbert said, in a letter received from her Friday, that Uncle and Aunt Safford, were to visit you soon, so dont despair - She also said that Clara joined the church last communion Sabbath Horace is at home but much worse, they will be obliged to take him back. He is very affectionate and kind whenever he knows them, which he seldom does. She hoped that we would write to them, poor Aunt Sarah is almost, heart broken. I mean to write very soon. She says that Horace still preserves a gentlemanly appearance, but that he is a very mournful sight - Please remember us to Mr. & Mrs. Ballard, Mrs. Raymond, Mrs. Hibbard, Sara, Carrie, &c. I can't realise now that I've been at home at all, everything looks precisely like last year, except the new faces, some of whom I like, many of whom I don't like - Miss Lyman is so gracious that the old scholars are somewhat bewildered. Helen says she is going to write, but as she is comfortably basking in the sunshine reading, I hardly think she will, therefore I will say for her that she is in ecstasies with every thing and person so far, except Prof. Knapp, to whom her objections seem to be, that he is very handsome, and has a black mustache. Give a great deal of love to all at home. I am thankful that you have a good girl at last. I've been up by a quarter past six every morning till this one -
Good bye - Your loving daughter Mattie-
Mother if I have not said so before I want to say now, if Auntie would like it please give her for Mary my plaid brown dress. It will be of no particular service to me & she seemed to take a fancy to it & there is enough good to make Mary a very pretty dress - With love - Hattie
